Quinn says he’s prepared, trying not to be presumptuous

Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn is in a tricky spot, getting ready to take over a job currently held by someone on the verge of getting fired.

ADRIANA COLINDRES

Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn is in a tricky spot, getting ready to take over a job currently held by someone on the verge of getting fired.

With the seemingly imminent departure of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the 60-year-old Quinn stands poised to become Illinois’ chief executive as soon as today.

Quinn believes he’s ready to take on the job.

“I’ve been around state government (since) 1973,” he said. “The issues are not foreign to my experience, especially the economic issues.”

But in an interview Tuesday afternoon, Quinn repeatedly said he doesn’t want to be “presumptuous” about the possibility of replacing Blagojevich as governor.

A Quinn spokeswoman said Wednesday night that his mindset about becoming governor hasn’t changed, even with the turn of events at Blagojevich’s impeachment trial in the Illinois Senate. It became clear Wednesday that the Senate would decide Blagojevich’s fate within a day or so.

Quinn has quietly been preparing for his possible elevation to governor since Blagojevich’s arrest Dec. 9 on federal corruption charges. But he’s reluctant to discuss many details, such as what his first actions as governor would be.

“That is presumptuous in my book,” he said. “Suffice it to say, the first thing will be to restore the faith of the people of Illinois in the integrity and honesty and openness of our government. You can’t have a democracy unless you have the trust of the people.”

Blagojevich has lost that trust, Quinn said.

“Just listening to him on his media tour the last couple of days, he sounds like he is preparing his gubernatorial epitaph,” he said. “It sounds like he doesn’t feel like he’s going to be governor much longer.”

Quinn, who is expected to be in Springfield today, already has begun beefing up his staff — which as lieutenant governor consists of about three dozen people.

Jay Stewart resigned as executive director of the Better Government Association to become counsel to Quinn, BGA board member Dave Lundy said Wednesday.

Jentz confirmed Stewart’s hiring and said he will assume his new duties today. She wouldn’t say if Quinn has made other recent hires.

In addition, Quinn said, friends and former co-workers have volunteered in recent weeks to help with his transition to the governorship.

Quinn’s fellow statewide constitutional officers say it simply makes sense for him to get ready to succeed Blagojevich.

“If he didn’t, it would be irresponsible to not be prepared,” said Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. “It’s not easy, but it’s essential.”

Attorney General Lisa Madigan was more blunt.

“I believe that it is only a matter of time until Gov. Blagojevich is no longer the governor of the state of Illinois,” she said. “I don’t think it’s awkward to be in meetings and to be preparing for a transition, because that day is coming.”

Indeed, Quinn and Madigan have met several times since Dec. 9 to go over what Madigan calls “legal and practical” issues, such as the mechanics of Quinn’s acquisition of gubernatorial powers.

According to the Illinois Constitution and state law, a governor’s conviction on impeachment creates an immediate vacancy in that office, Madigan said. Because the lieutenant governor is first in the state’s line of succession, whoever holds that office becomes governor.

Quinn would have to take the oath of office, administered by a judge, and sign a written version of the oath before he could assume powers as governor, Madigan said.

“That’s why we’ve physically drafted an oath (for him to sign) and have told him to either be in Springfield when that takes place because, presumably, you’ll have the chief justice there — or (that he should) have a judge on call, essentially, no matter where he is,” she said.

Quinn wouldn’t say whether he has a judge on standby. He did say, however, he “would sure hope” to take the governor’s oath in the state Capitol.

As governor, Quinn said, he’ll keep open the lines of communication with other statewide constitutional officers.

“One of the worst things I think the governor (Blagojevich) did was to cut all of us out, all five of us,” he said. “We understand that the people of Illinois come first. And we will work together as a team to help us get out of this morass we find ourselves in due to the conduct of the governor.”

Adriana Colindres can be reached at 782-6292.

Details of transition remain uncertain

Illinois has never removed a governor by impeachment before. Even with the vote fast approaching, officials haven’t worked out the details of a government transition, including what to do with any belongings left behind in the Executive Mansion.

If Gov. Rod Blagojevich is convicted and refuses to leave, his successor, present Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn, would have the authority to seek a court order to have him evicted or even order state police to remove him.

Blagojevich would stop receiving his $177,000-a-year salary upon a Senate conviction, his final check prorated to the day of his removal. His pension will be up to the state pension board.

Also up in the air is what would happen Blagojevich’s security detail. Traditionally, governors extend protection to their predecessors for a year.

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